Barwell to run Aston Martin Vantage GT3 for Britcar graduates Poole & Abra

Barwell Motorsport is delighted to announce that it will be continuing its successful association with Aston Martin Racing, as it has concluded a deal to run a new Vantage GT3 for Britcar graduates, Mark Poole and Richard Abra. Barwell was previously involved with the venerable Aston Martin DBRS9 GT3 from 2006 to 2011 (running seven different chassis and tending to several others), claiming two British GT titles along the way, and contesting races all around Europe as well as endurance events such as the Sebring 12 Hours and Spa 24 Hours.

This year Poole and Abra have been successfully campaigning a BMW M3 GTR in Class 2 of the Britcar MSA British Endurance Championship, culminating in a historic outright win in the Silverstone 24 Hours last month. Their plans for next year include stepping up to Class 1 of Britcar with the GT3 Aston, as well as forays into the British GT Championship and some possible outings in international GT3 series. Mark and Richard are viewing next year as a learning year at GT3 level, before launching a full championship challenge in 2014.

The team will take delivery of the brand new Vantage GT3 this week, and will then undertake a winter testing programme starting with two days at Donington Park in October.  If the team feel that enough progress has been made in the short period of time before the Britcar Endurance Championship finale at Donington on November 3rd, then they will enter the car for its race debut there, as this event is a great opportunity to get both day and night running in the new Aston before the season ends.

In addition to this programme with the Aston Martin Vantage GT3, Barwell is also set to continue its association with the BMW Z4 GT3 in both British GT and the Blancpain Endurance Series in 2013.

Mark Lemmer, Barwell Motorsport Team Principal: “We are delighted to be continuing our ultra-successful partnership with AMR, and the Vantage GT3 is a car that we are already familiar with due to our ‘Partner Team’ status. We would like to welcome Mark and Richard to the team, they have great potential as a driver pairing, and we are looking forward to working with them and helping them to achieve their goals over the coming seasons.”

Mark Poole: “I am delighted to be in partnership with Barwell, whose history and success with Aston Martin Racing would seem to be an ideal platform for us to develop our GT experience.”

Richard Abra: “I’m over the moon we have managed to put this deal together with Barwell to step up to a GT3 car. It’s always been an ambition for Mark and I and after a couple of seasons racing in a Vantage GT4 and BMW GTR in a few different Championships, we feel we are ready for the challenge and what better Team/Car to do it with..? 2013 is going to be very much a learning year but I can’t wait to get started!!”

Barwell Motorsport